Charles mcquillan



'(No Model.) l V McQUILLAN.

METAL CAN.

No. 561,338. Patented June 2, 1896.

ATTOBNE rs Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MCQUILLAN, OF BALMAIN, NEWV SOUTH WALES, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY PATESON, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.

METAL CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,338, dated June 2, 1896.

Application filed February 19,1896. Serial No. 579,948. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MGQUILLAN, engineer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Balmain, near Sydney, in the Colony of New South IVales,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetal Cans, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This inventionhas for its object an improvement in the construction of metal cans or canisters and the like receptacles or vessels, and more particularly those used for the storage or conveyance of preserved or perishable goods, so as to provide a means for opening same without damage to either the can or lid.

I attain my object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a full view of a metal can constructed according to this invention. Fig. II is a sectional view of Fig. I, showing the peculiar construction of the can. Fig. III is a view of a metal key which may be used to operate the cutting-wire.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A is a can, of any suitable metal, round, oval, or any other desired shape, but having its sides, or any one of them, so molded or pressed that there is formed near to the top a slight outward projection, abutment, or rim, such as B, immediately beneath an inwardlyreccding groove, such as 0. To this can is fitted an inner or intermediate lid or cover E, made of the same metal and of the same strength of metal as the can and so constructed as to fit tightly onto the can when in use. This inner lid or cover is provided with a flange G, of such a size as will extend down the sides of the can near to but not cover the groove 0 before mentioned.

An outer lid or cover F, of very thin metal, is fitted over the tight-fitting intermediate lid or cover E, and has a flange II, which extends down the sides over the flange G, so as to cover the groove G and rest upon the projection, abutment, or rim B, to which it is well soldered in the usual manner. The rim or projection B preferably projects just sufficiently far for the purpose.

Into the groove 0 and around the sides of the can is loosely placed a fine metallic wire D, having one of its ends secured or soldered to the sides of the can in the groove and the other projecting through the flange of the outer lid or cover F, so as to either form a loop or to thread through a key by the holes J and K in such key, by which construction the opening or cutting wire D will not affect or deteriorate or be affected by the contents of the can.

The opening of the can may be accomplished by taking hold of the loop of wire before described or by threading this end of the wire through the key before mentioned and twisting or pulling on the wire, so as to cause it to cut through the thin metal outer lid F right round the side or sides of the can, the groove 0 serving as a guide for the cutting-wire. The outer lid F may now be removed and dispensed with, leaving the can and tight-fitting inner or intermediate cover E uninjured. This lid or cover E is then removed for the contents to be readily withdrawn.

When it is desired to use the can a second or further time, it is only necessary to supply a fresh thin outer lid or cover F and to fit the parts together, as before described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A can-body having a projecting bead B with a groove above the same an inner cover or lid E fitting over the can-top with its lower edge just above the groove, the outer cover having its flange projecting below the lower edge of the inner cover and past the groove to rest upon the bead, and the wire arranged in the space between the can, the lower edge of the inner cover and the lower part of the outer cover, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MOQUILLAN.

IVitnesses:

ROBERT Soorr CULLINsoN, THOMAS W. MILLER. 

